At Survivors Against TB, we believe that high-quality TB care must be rooted in dignity, equity, and justice — not just clinical success. For too long, TB care in India and globally has focused narrowly on diagnosis and treatment adherence, overlooking the emotional, social, economic, and mental health toll the disease takes on individuals and families.

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High-quality TB care must see people as more than just carriers of a disease — it must respond to their lived realities, including the impact of poverty, gender, stigma, mental health, and caregiving burdens. It must be gender-responsive, survivor-informed, and community-owned.

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Under the Challenge Facility for Civil Society (CFCS) Round 11, we co-developed the first-ever community-led framework on high-quality TB care in India — created with survivors and communities, not just for them. This people-centered framework reflects what quality truly means on the ground: respect, agency, access, and support at every stage of the TB care journey.

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To us, high-quality TB care means:

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• Early and accurate diagnosis — regardless of location, gender, caste, or income

• Free and uninterrupted access to diagnostics, drugs, nutrition, and ancillary support

• Mental health services and counselling integrated into every stage of TB care

• Gender-sensitive services that account for the unique needs of women, girls, trans, and gender-diverse persons

• Economic and social protection, including support for livelihoods, housing, and caregiving responsibilities

• Dignified and non-discriminatory care free from stigma, moral judgment, and coercion

• Continuity of care across public and private sectors, without gaps or financial burden

• Protection of privacy and confidentiality for all individuals undergoing TB testing or treatment

• Support for survivors and caregivers, ensuring no one faces TB alone or without follow-up

 

Through our advocacy, we work to shift the TB response toward this expanded vision of care — one that prioritizes people, not just protocols. Whether it’s policy reform, engaging with the health system, or building grassroots models, we are committed to transforming TB care from a minimal standard of survival to a comprehensive promise of healing and restoration.

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Because high-quality TB care isn’t a favour — it’s a fundamental right.